Former New Baltimore Mayor Greg Bayer dies

Gregory Bayer, a former New Baltimore mayor and longtime community activist, died over the weekend after a recurring bout with cancer, according to his family. He was 78.

Bayer, who served as mayor of the lakefront town from 1991 through 1999, was known for volunteering his time both as an elected official and as a community leader. Family members going through his personal belongings on Sunday found numerous thank-you letters from various people he had helped out in the past, including some humorous ones.

“My mother made this ‘mayor book’ of his accomplishments and we found a letter from a woman thanking him for stopping by one day to help her remove a dead deer from her driveway,” said his oldest daughter, Rosemary Bayer. “The woman said she couldn’t believe the mayor would stop for that, but that’s the kind of man he was -- whatever needed to be done, count on him to help.”

Advertisement

Bayer and his wife, Mary Ann, were both cancer survivors and had been doing well for a number of years, according to friends and colleagues. In May, the couple participated in the Relay for Life event as cancer survivors.

However, Bayer was diagnosed with cancer about a month ago. He died Friday in a hospital.

“Greg was a good man who loved New Baltimore and Lake St. Clair,” said Mayor Pro Tem Florence Hayman, a longtime friend of the Bayer family. “He was a very kind man who worked hard for the community and loved his family. He was a worker.”

Bayer was a founding member of the Anchor Bay Community Foundation, and also participated with the New Baltimore Lions Club, Civic Club, Historical Society, Goodfellows and other organizations. He loved being on the lake.

He worked as a program engineer for General Motors and enjoyed woodworking, particularly making toys.

“He was the best dad in the whole universe,” Rosemary Bayer said. “He was the role model for all of our friends for what you’d want in a father.”

Family members said Bayer was once asked what he’d like to see written on his tombstone when he passed away.

“His answer was ‘He was one of the good guys. And he cares,’” his daughter recalled. “And he was one of the good guys. He was the man.”

In addition to his wife, Bayer is survived by his children, Mike, Chris, Rosemary, Heidi, Bridget and Jennifer; four grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; 12 siblings; and 57 nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at St. Mary Queen of Creation Catholic Church, 50931 Maria, New Baltimore. Visitation is 2-9 p.m. Wednesday at Gendernalik Funeral Home, New Baltimore. Memorial contributions may be addressed to Anchor Bay Community Foundation.